Ingrid is getting to that age where I'm starting to think about preschool next year. At first I was against it, thinking we already do lots of fun things throughout the day and she is obviously a smart cookie and learning enough from her dear old mom. But then the other day we were painting and I thought oh, how much would she love to do this with other kids? Or play with other kids instead of having to beg Brendan and I to play block towers again? Or just have some time away from her crab apple of a mom a couple times a week? It started to sound like a good idea for her. For me, I would totally take the few hours a week break. I hear everyone gets teary dropping their kid off to school for the first time and I just don't get it--although when it's my turn I'm sure I would be the same way...
Anyway, so other than the fact that preschool is EXPENSIVE around these parts, something else made me pause and rethink sending Ingrid away for her learning experiences. Someone posted something about their 3 1/2 yo getting homework from preschool??!! It totally disgusted me.
Have you heard about this? Homework for that young? I'm sure it's not a worksheet of algebra problems, but still. The point, to me, of preschool is getting the kids together to learn how to work together, how to sit and listen, how to interact with other kids. It's not to learn things academically. I don't expect my preschool to teach Ingrid her ABCs or 123s, or how to read. I just want her to play and learn how to deal with other people her age. And that doesn't seem to me to be something that a send home worksheet could do. So I started to think about what I would do if Ingrid was sent home some stupid piece of homework and I got all riled up.
I looked up online and came across a teacher's website where teachers were talking about the pros and cons of homework for young children. Some said the kids needed to get used to it for higher grades, but I disagree. Others said they only gave things out to kids who needed more help, or maybe a monthly thing like cut out pictures of a certain color or something. I can see that, I guess. One teacher said she does it to make sure parents are involved, but isn't the point of homework for the kids to do it??
I'm still unsure. I know I have a choice when it comes time to send her or not, and where to send her if I do, so I don't know why I'm freaking about this. I just hate the idea of not having control over her education!! Of having her be one of 20 kids instead of my lovely Ingrid who's so smart and sassy and funny. I've got a year to figure it out I guess...
A New Path
11 months ago
4 comments:
I go through this every year, and so far I've decided not to send my kids every year. Another factor for me is that I have to drag all three kids out for pickup and drop-off, every day. That and the expense typically talk me out of it pretty quickly. But I continue to second-guess on it...
As for homework and parents, my friend's 15yo daughter just brought home a homework assignment where her MOM had to write an essay "between 1 and 1 million words", all about her daughter!!!
Well, Lo is almost 4 and he just started...yeah, thats me posting about homework. BUT it was just a poster about him and his likes. He LOVES preschool, loves his teacher LOVES getting out away for a bit. I HATE not knowing what he is doing every second, how people are treating him, if he can pull up his pants OK etc etc. but in the end if something goes in a way I'm not cool with (Like REAL homework) I'm not afraid to pull out the big F-YOU card, pull him out and go back to our normal lives. No big deal.
It sounds, then, like what you want is a play group rather than a preschool? In that case, I would pull out all the stops to find a play group (or just more play dates).
aww pip loves school so far! off she went and she didn't cry and i didn't either. although i we thought she looked so little standing there! call me we can chat it up! luckily i found an amazing teacher that believes Nursery school ;) is for the socialization and independence of the child! not the academics. although they do learn their ABC's. it's mostly about playing and learning to take turns!
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